The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Willimantic community will come together to read, discuss, and
celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature. This presentation will focus on the book, “Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20
Great Mexican Short Stories,” the book that was selected by Eastern for the local community. A limited amount of copies of the book
will be handed out at no cost. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate for the local food bank.
This event is free and open to the public.

This event will announce the commencement of The Big Read! Guest speakers include: Denise Merrill, Secretary of the State; Elsa M. Núñez,
President of Eastern Connecticut State University; Patricia Banach, Director of Library Services at Eastern; Ann Anderberg, Assistant Professor of Education at Eastern, and Dr. Lucy Ferriss, Writer-in-Residence at Trinity College. Speakers will talk about the book that was selected, why literacy is matters, and how important reading is for today’s careers. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Dress in your festive clothing and bring a non-perishable food item to donate for the local food bank.
This event is free and open to the public.

Celebrate The Big Read during National Hispanic Heritage Month with David Giardina and his Mariachi Fiesta del Norte Band. Fiesta del Norte performs traditional Mexican folk and popular music on authentic instruments. Musicians dressed in customary charro outfits interweave songs, translations, storytelling, joyful gritos and cultural insights. Dress in your festive clothing and bring a non-perishable food item as we will be collecting for the local food bank.
This event is free and open to the public.

Quinebaug Valley Community College in partnership with Eastern Connecticut State University will host Arnaldo Rivera and Friends during the Third Thursday Street Fest for a 90-minute concert and discussion on the influence of Latin music and its origins. A limited amount of The Big Read book, “Sun, Stone and Shadows, 20 Great Mexican Short Stories,” will be given away during the game portion of this celebration.
This event is free and open to the public.

Theatrical Readings of stories found in Sun, Stone, and Shadows will be presented by students in Professor Ellen Faith Brodie’s Children's Theatre class. Readings include: The Mist by Juan de la Cabada and The Square by Juan Garcia Ponce.
This event is free and open to the public.
For reservations and information, please call Professor Brodie at (860) 465-5122.

American Experience: A Class Apart (1 hour)
“AMERICAN EXPERIENCE presents A Class Apart from the award-winning producers Carlos Sandoval (Farmingville), and Peter Miller (Sacco and Vanzetti, The Internationale). The one-hour film dramatically interweaves the story of its central characters— activists and lawyers, returning veterans and ordinary citizens, murderer, and victim — within the broader story of a civil rights movement that is still very much alive today.”

Lost in Detention: The Hidden World of Immigration Enforcement (1 hour)
“More than one million immigrants have been deported since President Barack Obama took office. Under his administration, deportations and detentions have reached record levels. The get-tough policy has brought complaints of abuse and harsh treatment, including charges that families have been unfairly separated after being caught in the nationwide dragnet. The administration has promised to make the detention system more humane, and more selectively target the most serious criminals, but it faces Republican critics urging stricter measures — and a growing backlash among Latino voters, a key 2012 electoral force.”

Now The Latino Vote 2008 (30 Minutes)
“The booming Hispanic population in political swing states is creating opportunities and headaches in both political parties as they try to court the Latino vote. NOW on PBS travels to Florida just weeks before its important primary to examine Republican tactics to win over Hispanic Americans. A fifth of Florida's residents are Hispanic, and Republicans are scoring points on traditional issues of faith and national security. But at the same time, they're frustrating Latinos with what many of them see as harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric. Who has the winning approach?”

Get an intimate look into the life story of Esmeralda Santiago, best-selling author, award-winning screenwriter and essayist as we view Almost a Woman, and the documentary film Writing a Life.
This event is free and open to the public.

Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream (1 hour)
“Numbering 44 million, Latinos are not only this nation’s largest and fastest-growing ethnic group, they are also big business. Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream is a fresh, provocative film examining how media and marketers are shaping America’s perceptions of Latinos.”

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo (1.5 hours)
“Emmy Nominated! Frida Kahlo was more than a great painter: her life and art reflected the maelstrom of revolution and culture that defined the first half of the 20th century. She was at times a socialist, a communist and a revolutionary. This program presents her life as a reflection of her cultural history, her art and the times in which she lived. The film combines her artwork with photographs, archival films and interviews.”

This interactive live web conference of best-selling author, award-winning screenwriter and essayist Esmeralda Santiago will be based on her works to date. The audience is invited to ask questions and stay around after the conference for a lite snack. Please bring a non-perishable food item as we will be collecting for the local food bank.
This event is free and open to the public.

Latin Music USA
“Highlights the great American music created by Latinos, and celebrates the Latin rhythms
at the heart of jazz, rock, country, and rhythm and blues. It's a fresh take on American
musical history, reaching across five decades to portray the rich mix of sounds created by
Latinos and embraced by all.”

Students in Arts at the Capitol Theater, EASTCONN's Arts Magnet High School, will read stories from Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Short Mexican Stories and perform drama pieces around the stories for the public during their Annual Showcase.
This event is free and open to the public.